The Lobos fell short 74-69 to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas after coming back from a 17-point deficit to tie the game with under two minutes left, Saturday.
UNM (9-14, 3-7 MWC) managed to tie the game 62-62 in the closing minutes but could not hold on. UNLV's power forward J.K. Edwards put the Rebels back up 65-62, making an inside bucket and converting the extra point after being fouled by sophomore David Chiotti. Edwards all but sealed the deal on UNLV's next possession, scoring another two points inside for a 67-62 Rebel lead. Lobo sophomore forward Jamaal Williams tried to keep UNM in the game with a dunk but UNLV's Jermaine Lewis nailed a three for a commanding 70-64 advantage in the closing seconds.
First-half shooting woes caused the Lobos to fall behind early. They made just 12-34 from the field in the half including an ice cold 0-10 from the 3-point line.
However, a ferocious defensive effort and an offensive explosion by Williams kept them in the game.
As a team, UNM played with more intensity, out rebounding the bigger and taller Rebels 44-27, but the Lobos could not overcome the inside presence of Edwards.
At one point late in the game, Edwards scored 12 straight points for UNLV (16-8, 5-5 MWC). He supplied crucial buckets at the end of the game finishing with 20 points and six rebounds while making 12-15 from the free-throw line.
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It was Edwards that carried the Rebels, who shot a miserable 28 percent from the floor in the second half. UNLV stayed in the game by converting 21-27 chances from the free-throw line while making only six field goals in the entire half.
Senior scoring machine Ruben Douglas had an off-day shooting performance but still managed to get 21 points. Douglas was cold from the outside hitting just one-of-10 3-point attempts. Overall he shot 5-21 from the floor, doing much of his damage from the charity stripe, making all 10 of his attempts.
Freshman guard/forward Mark Walters provided a spark for the Lobos scoring nine points and adding a couple of high-flying dunks to go with six rebounds while playing a team-high 36 minutes.
UNLV was led by senior point guard Marcus Banks in the first half. He finished with 17 points and seven assists but was slowed considerably in the second period.
UNM has a chance to forget about the loss when it takes on San Diego State University (13-10, 4-6 MWC), tonight.
